BIM+Project+Execution+Planning+Project

=Project Execution Planning for Building Information Modeling= toc Project Website: []
 * A [|buildingSMART Alliance] Project**

Participants

 * CIC Research Group Members:** Craig Dubler, Nevena Zikic, Chitwan Saluja, Colleen Kasprzak, Chimay Anumba, John Messner, Sam Hunter
 * Advisory Board Members:** Dana 'Deke' Smith, NIBS; Victor Sanvido, Southland Industries; Francois Grobler, US Army CERL; Steve Hagan, GSA; Soad Kousheshi, AEC Systems; Ed Gannon, Penn State OPP; Mark Falzarano, Barton Malow Company; Mark Butler, HDR

Sponsors
[|The Charles Pankow Foundation], [|The Construction Industry Institute (CII)], [|The Partnership for Achieving Construction Excellence (PACE)], and [|The Office of Physical Plant at Penn State]

Introduction
The vision of Building Information Modeling (BIM) is to allow project teams to digitally model a building and its performance prior to construction, and collect, store and use digital information efficiently and accurately throughout the project lifecycle. This vision is the focus of many recent construction projects that are implementing a BIM process, yet to date, most projects are using isolated BIM techniques for targeted tasks. The overarching goal for the development of an integrated digital model which is created at the beginning of the project, and then developed, and used throughout the project lifecycle remains very limited. A current challenge and opportunity faced by the early project planning team is to identify the most appropriate uses for Building Information Modeling on a project given the project characteristics, participants’ goals and capabilities, and the desired risk allocations. This research is focused on helping project teams to evaluate and implement appropriate BIM applications and processes by providing a decision matrix to assist in the definition of BIM applications, and guidelines for implementing BIM at various stages of the project.

Research Goal and Objectives
The goal of this research is to develop a method to create a Building Information Modeling (BIM) Execution Plan in the early stages of a project. Many owners and project teams are currently struggling with defining the appropriate level of modeling to perform on a construction project based on the current state of practice and their future information needs. This guide, developed primarily for facility owners and early project participants, will focus on the decisions required to define the scope of BIM implementation on the project, identify process impacts of using BIM, define the team characteristics needed to achieve the modeling, and quantify the value proposition for the appropriate level of modeling at the various stages in the project lifecycle.

Specific objectives that will be achieved include:
 * 1) **Identification of BIM methods and implementation strategies** organized by project phase (planning, design, construction, and operations) and the definition of potential benefits, costs, and strategies for adopting these methods;
 * 2) Develop the **implementation guidelines and best practices** for BIM implementation at various stages in the project; and
 * 3) **Disseminate the results** through A) a BIM Execution Planning guide; B) an interactive execution planning computer tool that will lead a project team through the collaborative planning process; C) presentations at buildingSMART, CII and other national conferences, e.g., AIA, AGC BIMForum, DBIA, etc.; D) a CII research summary and CII research report; and E) articles in industry and academic publications.

Research Process Overview

 * 1) Perform interviews and a detailed literature review to identify the BIM methods that can be implemented at the various project phases, along with the opportunities and challenges encountered with the adoption of BIM in various phases of the execution.
 * 2) Develop a Draft Planning Process which will identify the important decisions that need to be made by an owner / project team related to BIM implementation, along with potential strategies.
 * 3) Test, Assess and Revise the Planning Process through an analysis of at least 15 detailed case studies, and through the adoption and testing of the methodology on several design and construction projects.
 * 4) Develop Final BIM Planning Guide that clearly defined the BIM Execution Planning Process in an easy to use document.
 * 5) Develop a BIM Planning Tool that will more easily allow a project team to develop the BIM Execution Plan in a planning meeting.

Planned Research Results

 * 1) **BIM Execution Planning Guide:** This document, posted electronically, will include the decision matrix and guidelines for BIM implementation at various project phases. This document will be posted and distributed by the buildingSMART organization.
 * 2) **BIM Execution Planning Tool:** This tool will be an easy to use computer application for guiding a team through the decisions required for creating the project execution plan for BIM. It will be based on the Execution Planning Guide for BIM.

Milestone Schedule
April 2008 - Project Kick-off September 2009 - Draft Planning Guide March 2010 - Final Planning Guide and Tool Complete